WRCSolberg

Only on a OW ticket though. Not a valid routing for a partner award.

frankcoton

I have now managed to find departing J seats JFK-LAX-SYD on QF, but I am having trouble with return. We need 2 seats, with return date either April 3 or 4th. I have been searching QFF and expertflyer, then calling AA. I am not holding my breath on getting return seats with QF. You have all suggested great options. I have tried SYD-NRT-JFK, SYD-EZE-JFK, SYD-BNE-LAX-JFK, SYD-HNL-LAX-JFK...ETC with no luck.
I have not tried LHR yet as I am wondering if this is worth the hassle????
Any other suggestions or better ways to search online?

WRCSolberg

You can't find SYD-NRT availibility? I was looking at that a few weeks ago and I saw heaps of availibility. JAL and QF? What about SYD-HKG? CNS-NRT? BNE-NRT on JAL and QF? MEL-NRT? SYD-PPT-LAX?

drron

2 J awards SYD-HKG on 8th april on QF.Problem is you are in to school holiday times in Australia.Victorian schools on holidays from the 3rd.NSW and QLD from the 10th but private schools usually begin break a week earlier.

JAppelbee

Sign up for Qantas Frequent Flyer Club (its free to US residents). There you can check availability for a full calendar period. Keep checking back often, as bookings change and seats open up (and disappear). I fly home to Australia on average once every 18 mths using AA miles on QF, and in the past 10 years have been successful in finding biz award seats, by being flexible and planning ahead. Ive also found seats available only days or weeks in advance of when I wanted to fly. One suggestion is to search for one available seat, as searching for 2 wont give you a match if the system only has one available on a particular flight., Consider even flying on a different day or flight than your travel companion. Its better to spend 22 hrs in biz class alone, than spend 22 hours cramped together in coach...

Once you find your flights. call AA, tell them the exact flights and you they should find them also.

NWA747SNN

QF 101 MEL-PVG, has one J and one Y award seat on April 4th. A second J seat may open up as award availability is good on this route. The flight arrives at 18:05 and there is J availability the next day on AA to ORD. The ORD flight leaves at 17.30, so you would 23-1/2 hours in Shanghai (no visa required for less than 48hrs).

trekker

Happy

Does AA awards allow 23 1/2 hours layover? I thought it is only 6 hours on international route, but then the last flight in first flight out rule also applied.

JDiver

Iirc, another member posted TN is joining the leftover, er, SkyTeam, alliance, and if so, one can't be too sure how AA miles awards will be handled in the long run. But yet another option is Tabua Class on FJ (Air Pacific,) ex-LAX and via NAN / Nadi. Not too bad at all, kind of like a combo Biz and First class.

We've found QF U allocations for two Business seats, using BNE, SYD and MEL, in that order - it does take some persistence.